Lower Sabie 

Dankie vir deel van inligting

Na vyf maande.........?

Lyk nie asof kampplekke geraak word nie. 

Een ding van Laer Sabie .... hulle kampplekke is regtig baie klein. Ek gee nie om om baie naby die bure te staan nie, maar dis nie lekker wanneer jou buurman oor jou leun om die soutpotjie by te kom nie.

(Sommer grappie)

Ons is nou all vir ń week in Satara en die plek is in ń gahos. Niks word skoon gemaak nie en die min staff will nie werk nie. As jy hulle vra om die asblik skoon te maak vra hulle ń fooi. Die Camper ablutions word nie skoon gemaak nie en die blare lê oorals op die stands en in die gange. Daar is nog steeds van die staff wat in die kamp challets bly en hulle will nie uit nie. Dit veroorsaak dat die kamp vol is vir toeriste maar die accommodasie is deur staff beset.

In die afgeloope 5 maande het daar niks instandhouding plaas gevind nie en nou will die staff so aanhou. Die lockdown het hulle lui en arrogant gemaak.

That is seriously sad to hear Paul....sterkte daar!!

There is only hand sanitiser at the Park Shop entrance and reception. Nothing anywhere else. When we confronted the reception lady she said, "It is clearly written in your booking that the onus is on you to provide your own PPE". It is very sad. I have not been to the other camps yet and hope that it is better there. Some disgruntled campers from Skukuza said it is just the same there. I visited Letaba and it looked clean and tidy. There was also only hand sanitiser at the shop, resturant and reception.

Hulle wil nie werk nie en wil nogsteeds hulle demands met verhogings ens afdwing. Daar gaan nou probleme wees om daai mense uit die Chalets te kry aangesien hulle nou op behuising gaan aandring. Die arogansie maak my briesend.

We camped at Skukuza the past week and found everything to our satisfaction. Yes, one must being your own sanitizer. The ablutions were spotless and a cleaner was regularly there not only to clean but also to sanitize. Each toilet is equipped with a toilet seat sanitizer as well.

There is a sign clearly requesting guests wear masks before entering the ablutions. You will be surprised how many people do not adhere to it. Probably the disgruntled campers now at Satara?

The campsites have been cleaned and there is a team raking leaves daily. Braais are cleaned as in the past.

So hats off for Skukuza.

Thanks for the positive feedback Hendrick, good to hear. Need to transfer the excellent staff to Satara?

Ek vermoed dit is maar 'n bestuursprobleem soos duidelik blyk uit die gehalte verskil tussen Skukuza en Satara.

Paul, ek vertou jy sal die saak skriftelik opneem met SanParke met jou foto-bewyse.  Dit gaan jou nie veel help nie, maar minstens kan dit help om toekomstige toeriste se ervaring te verbeter.

HM wrote:

We camped at Skukuza the past week and found everything to our satisfaction. Yes, one must being your own sanitizer. The ablutions were spotless and a cleaner was regularly there not only to clean but also to sanitize. Each toilet is equipped with a toilet seat sanitizer as well.

There is a sign clearly requesting guests wear masks before entering the ablutions. You will be surprised how many people do not adhere to it. Probably the disgruntled campers now at Satara?

The campsites have been cleaned and there is a team raking leaves daily. Braais are cleaned as in the past.

So hats off for Skukuza.

Thanks Heindrick, that is good too hear. I see there is a lot of cleaning taking place at the chalets in our camp, Satara, today. It looks like the staff only returned today.

From here we are going to L Sabie for 12 days.

It really looks like each camp manager operates independently.

Kudos to those who took this opportunity to do some maintenance.

The dirt roads around Letaba have all been graded, and the tents and some ablutions have been/are being renovated. The elephants destroyed some of the lala palms in the camp and damaged some of the tents.

The Kruger is such a happy place for us.

Ref: 9/2/2 – 20 – KNP Saturday, August 29, 2020 Accommodation 1/of 1 MEDIA RELEASE ACCOMMODATION AVAILABILITY STATUS IN SANPARKS Amongst other hospitality establishments, South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the lifting of the travel bans as well as accommodation occupancy limitations. However ,these changes imply a “new normal” which is governed by strict health and safety protocols that need to be efficiently observed to keep employees and guests safe. SANParks made an announcement earlier in the month that it intends to reopen its hospitality operations gradually to ensure optimum readiness to accommodate guests in compliance with new regulations and protocols. In addition to compliance obligations, several other factors have led to the phased reopening of hospitality facilities chiefly that of continuing refurbishment of accommodation facilities in some parks. The period of the lockdown provided an opportunity to undertake much needed refurbishments and as with all of South Africa, reopening plans were based on a widely held assumption that tourism facilities would be allowed reopen toward mid- September; hence most refurbishment plans were geared for completion around this period. Speaking of the impact of maintenance work on reopening tourism facilities; the CEO of SANParks, Mr Fundisile Mketeni said “we have some logistical challenges with regard to our readiness to resume full operations in some parks. In addition to planned maintenance work, it has emerged that the bulk of units that were unoccupied during the lockdown were damaged mainly by primates, squirrels and bats, however we are moving with speed to repair them”. Providing further detail to the logistical challenges to resuming full operations, Mketeni stated that the recall of staff and their induction on new protocols could only be undertaken over a period of days - further adding to the delays. He emphasised that the induction is in the interests of the health and safety of both guests and staff. Mketeni went on to say “we had an option of staying closed for all business until we were 100% ready, however with the understanding that our loyal guests are yearning to spend time in nature, the compromise was to introduce a phased reopening of our guest facilities. In this manner, some people would have the privilege of visiting our parks while unfortunately several would be disappointed due to the above stated reasons” concluded Mketeni. In the last week, operational teams have worked hard to regularise our ability to function optimally and as such we would like to announce that: 1. The Head Office Reservation Call Centre in Pretoria is now operating at full capacity. 2. The online booking system has been stabilised and all technical disruptions resolved. 3. The accommodation in the majority of our parks is now fully operational with the exception of Kruger National Park which is the most impacted by continuing maintenance work, will open in a multi-phased approach between August and December 2020. Most of the Kruger camps have reopened and are fully operational, however Skukuza and Lower Sabie will be operating at minimum capacity until 1 October 2020 and 15 December respectively. Biyamiti, Maroela and Orpen remain closed and their estimated reopening dates are as follows; Biyamiti: 15 October 2020 Maroela – 01 November 2020 Orpen –07 November 2020 The bulk of guests with affected bookings have been contacted and this will continue until the end of September 2020. These guests are being offered alternative accommodation in other camps within Kruger or assisted in postponing their bookings. Guests who wish to make queries about their bookings are invited to send emails to a dedicated address: Kruger.overbookings@sanparks.org Mketeni concluded ‘We are aware that trips were planned and paid for a long time ago and others are family traditions, however due to the real challenges that we face, we urge for patience and tolerance from all guests.’ Issued by: South African National Parks, Kruger National Park - Communications & Marketing Enquiries: Isaac Phaahla, Media Specialist - SANParks. Tel: 013 735 4384, cell 083 673 6974 or email: Isaac.phaahla@sanparks.org

A very slow phased reopening I must say.

Satara now has hand sanitisers fitted next too the toilet roll holder in each toilet in the ablutions.

Some bookings were cancelled without contacting the person. I was phoned by the camp and asked what I wanted to do.

Privaat karre mag nou 100% laai

https://businesstech.co.za/news/motoring/430820/updated-driving-rules-for-south-africa-during-level-2-lockdown-including-changes-for-private-vehicles/

Thanks for that Geert, sanity prevales, but masks while driving with household family?